To All Wrestlers, Coaches and Parents,

Registration is now open for the 2014 Ohio Tournament of Champions,
scheduled for April 26, at the Columbus Convention Center, in Downtown
Columbus, OH.

A few notes for the 2014 tournament:

1. Entry fees remain the same for this year ($65 for first entry and
$40 for each additional entry, from the same immediate family). Open
Division wrestlers also remain the same at $40. As has been the case
the past two years, there is a $5 fee, added to each entry, for
insurance purposes (in lieu of requiring any card).

1a. For those registering a team, group discounts are again being
offered, if you register a group of 8 or more wrestlers. However, as in
the past, one person needs to enter all the information, (under one
team account), and do one payment at the end.

2. Our initial date of closure this year is April 16. Extended
registration, (provided we have not met our maximum number of entries),
will run thru April 19. However, those who register and pay during the
extended period will be subject to a higher registration fee. These
deadlines also apply for any weight changes. Weight changes made thru
April 16 will be done at no charge. From April 17-19 a fee will be
charged and then any additional weight changes would need to be made at
the event itself (and are subject to up to a $100 fee.)

NOTE: Last year we had just over 2800 entries. Due to a change in Halls
for this year, (we will be in Halls E/F and an additional Ballroom this
year), we are anticipating limiting the entries to 2800. So, we do
expect to close out. We will still be able to fit 30 mats, but will not
have as much "free space."

The final closeout date represents our closing out a day earlier than
in the past. This is to provide us enough time to double check the
brackets, as we are aware there were several bracket issues last year -
namely kids from the same area being placed in close proximity on the
bracket. When we used to have time to hand do the brackets, we
separated wrestlers by Zip Code, which was the criteria which was
supposed to have been used this past year. I am not sure what happened,
as the brackets are formed via computer several hundred miles from
here. Obviously, there was a flaw in the system and we have worked with
the computer programmer to make sure that doesn't happen again.

ALSO: If you go in and register now AND get to your invoice (click on
view invoice and pay - but not pay), that will lock you into the $65
entry fee in the system, even if you don't log back in to pay until
April 17-19. However, if you register now and do not get an invoice
number, then you would have to pay the higher fee the site would
charge, on those final three days, even if your information was
inputted prior to those dates. NOTE: Registering, and not paying until
near the end, still places you in jeopardy of the event closing out,
prior to us receiving your payment.

Vendors will be relocated to the Main Hallway Meeting Rooms (which open
to the Concourse) this year.

3. Because some mats will be located in a different area (about 30
yards form the Main Hall), we have changed our normal wrestling
schedule.

Bantam, Midget and Junior weights are scheduled to begin at 8 am. The
Open Division will also wrestle the morning session, as they did last
year. New is that fact that the Elite Division will also begin at 8 am
and will be placed in the Upstairs Ballroom, where we will have 6 mats.

We are also going to try something new. Unless numbers require more
than one weight class, we intend to place one weight on a mat at a
time. That weight will wrestle down to their final placement matches,
at which time a new weight class will begin and run for about 30
minutes, to provide rest for the first group. The final four matches
for the first group would then wrestle to finish their class. Weights
will still be scheduled for a particular mat, but will also be given an
approximate start time.

What this means is that all weights scheduled to begin at 8 am will not
begin at 8 am, but will still take place, and finish, in the morning
session. Scheduled start times will be posted during weigh ins. This
should allow for a smaller crowd around each mat and also allow for
individuals to have to spend less time at the Convention Center. If
things go as planned, this system will also be used when we move back
into Hall C/D.

4. While we will still have team awards (rosters can be handed in prior
to the start of wrestling), new this year are Team Awards (top 3 teams)
for the Open Division.

5. We will also have NEW awards for this year, which will feature our
2014 mascot, the TURTLE. Keep an eye on our Tournament Information
page, as we hope to have a photo of the new awards up soon. I think
everyone should like them a lot and, like our past awards, will be very
unique. These may also prove to be the most practical awards we have
yet given. Once again, awards will go to the top 8 placers (top 6 for
the Open Division).

6. We will still feature FREE ADMISSION and NO fee for coaches cards.

7. If you would like a flyer for the event e-mailed to you, please send
your request to: bart@ohiotofc.com and we will get one sent.